Art of rayon manufacture



W. H. FURNESS ART OF RAYON MANUFACTURE Dec. 11, 1934.

Filed June 20, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

r ATTORNEY) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 W. H. FURNESS ART OF RAYON MANUFACTURE Filed June 20, 1931 Dec. 11, 1934.

i lllll Patented Dec. 11, 1934 PATENT- OFFICE 1,983,195 .m'r or RAYON monotone William H. Parnell, National N. asaignor to Fnrneas Corporation, Gloucester, N. 1., a corporation of New Jersey Application June 20,1931, Serlal'l lo. 545,761

24 Claims.

This invention relates to apparatus primarily adapted for use in the manufacture of rayon, although in some of its aspects it has usefulness in other fields. I

The invention is shown in connection with apparatus for carrying out the continuous method of manufacture described and claimed in my copending application Serial No. 508,840, filed January 15, 1931.

In that process I lead the thread from the precipitating bath to a revolving cage composed of sets of bars which have radial in and out movement and longitudinal reciprocating movement, the thread being carried on certain of the bars of each set at all times. This cage operates to receive the thread and lay it up thereon in the form of an advancing helix. As there is only a single layer of thread the various treatments to which the thread must be subjected can be very easily and rapidly carried out.

When apparatus of this character is used in the production of cupro-ammonium thread it is one of the objects of the invention to provide means whereby the deposition of copper on th thread and/or on the cage is prevented.

Another object of the invention is to provide means whereby a predetermined uniform stretching is given to the thread intermediate the -pre cipitating bath and the page from which the formed thread is wound.

It is also an object of the invention to provide an improved means for applying heat for drying a thread on the cage and to so construct the cage that this may be done while permitting the thread to shrink during the drying.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a simple and effective arrangement for driving the various parts.

How the foregoing, together with such other 40 objects and advantages as may hereinafter appear, are realized is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein- Fig. 1 is a side elevation of one unit of a battery of units embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows, and

Fig. 3 is a sectional view illustrating a detail of the invention.

Referring now to the drawings the reference numeral 7 indicates a frame for the unit, which frame in turn is carried upon framework 8-8 which supports the battery of units. The cage is indicated by the reference character A and it is revolubly supported on the frame 7, its shaft 9 having a bearing 10 at the driving end and hav- (or. 1H)

ing a bearing 10a "at its opposite end in the means for supplying air, which means in turn is carried on the frame 7.

The shaft 9 has a 'pulley 11 which is driven by a belt 12 passing over a-drive pulley 13 on the shaft 14. The shaft, 14 is driven from a main driving shaft 15' whi'ch'serves to drive each unit of the battery." The pump 16 is driven from the shaft '9 by gearing 17, the pump receiving its supply of solution from a main supply pipe 18 through the medium of'the flexible connection 19. The pipe 20 leads from the pump to the spinneret in the bath (not shown).

As seen in Figure 2, the thread may conveniently be spun by, means of a spinneret such as shown at 45, disposed in a precipitating bath 46.

The thread as it leaves the precipitating bath is passed around the drawing wheel 21 preferably a number oftime's, in order to provide suillcient contact of the thread thereon to prevent slippage of the thread; The thread as it leaves the drawing wheel passes over a guide 22 and then over a I guide eye 23 to the cage. The cage and the drawing wheel are driven at the same speed, but since the cage is of larger diameter than the drawing wheel a definite predetermined uniform stretching is imparted to the thread between the drawing wheel and the cage. In this connection the thread has sumcient contact with the cage to prevent slippage. Thusuniform denier of the thread and other advantages are obtained.

In order that at no time shall any portion of. the surface of the cage upon which the thread lies, always be unexposed, I impart a very slight traverse motion to the guide eye 23 in a manner hereinafter to be described. The traverse motion need only be very slight in order to secure exposure of the surfaces of the cage. Thus the surfaces, as will hereinafter appear, are effectively subjected to acid, thereby preventing' deposition of copper thereon.

The cage is inclined and acid is dripped on to the thread in the cage at the point indicated at 24, following which water is dripped on at the point indicated at 25. These liquids run down the cage and mix, the mixture traveling downward along the cage to finally drip oil into th pan 26.

In order to insure there being sumcient acid to prevent depositions of copper on the thread, under all normaloperating conditions I provide a secondary acid drip at 27 this being located near the lower end of the cage. A traverse motion is imparted to the acid drip 27 by means of the bar 28 mounted on the shaft 29, this shaft being rocked by the rocker arm 30 operated by the crank arm 31 connected to the wheel 32 operated by the driving mechanism. By connecting the guide eye 23 to an arm 28a secured to shaft 29 the slight traverse motion hereinbefore referred to as being given to such guide eye, is imparted.

To throw out any unit the lever 33 is thrown up whichdisengages the driving pulley 13 from the belt 12.

To dry the thread I provide a steam heater 34 of the coil type located within the upper end of. the cage, steam being supplied thereto from the main 35 and condensate being returned tothe condensate line 36. Air is supplied to the goose neck 3''! from the main wind box 38 which serves the whole battery through the chamber controlled pipe 39 and the passage 40 in the frame fl. The air after leaving the gooseneck passes over the coils of the heater and works radially outward through the cage and over the thread, control of the heat being ail'orded by control of the steam through the medium of the valve 41. A check valve 42 is located in the condensate pipe leading to the pipe 36.

The drive is one which adapts itself to ready change as the speed of the pump is altered when producing thread of different denien' Also any.

unit may be thrown out without disturbing the remaining units of the battery.

It will, of course, be understood that the thread is led oil from the cage to a suitable winding apparatus. The reference numeral 43 indicates a collecting trough for the liquids, common to the units of the battery.

it will be understood that there is only one operating mechanism for the shaft 29.

I claim:

1. In combination with a spinneret, a rotating cage adapted to receive the thread and advance it in the form of a helix therealong, means for leading the thread to the cage with a traverse motion so that no surface of the cage remains always unexposed, and means for supplying a liquid to the cage.

2. In combination with a spinneret, a rotating cage adapted to receive the thread and advance it in the form of a helix therealong, means for leading the thread to the cage with a traverse motion so that no surface of the cage remains always unexposed, and means for supplying a liquid to the cage. the cage being inclined so that the liquid flows toward the low end thereof.

3. In combination wit a spinneret, a rotating cage adapted to receive the thread and advance it in the form of a helix therealong, and rotating means intermediate the spinneret and cage for imparting uniform stretch to the thread.

4. In combination with a spinneret, a rotating cage adapted to receive the thread and advance it in the form of a helix therealong, and means intermediate the spinneret and cage for imparting a predetermined uniform stretch to the thread.

5. In combination with a spinneret, a rotating cage adapted to receive the thread and advance it in the form of a helix therealong, the contact of the thread on the cage being sufiicient to prevent slippage of the thread, and a draw wheel intermediate the spinneret and cage having a pcripheral speed diii'erent from that of the cage and having contact with the thread sufllcient to prevent slippage.

6. In combination with a spinneret, a cage for receiving the spun thread, a shaft on which the cage is mounted, a draw wheel on said shaft, a

pump for the spinneret driven from the shaft, a source of power, and drive means between the shaft and said source.

7. In combination with a spinneret, a cage for receiving the spun thread, a shaft on which the cage is mounted, a draw wheel on said shaft, a pump for the spinneret driven from the shaft, a source of power, drive means between the shaft and said source, and means for disconnecting said drive means from driving association.

, 8. In apparatus of the character described, a mechanism for laying up and advancing thread for treating purposes including a plurality of sets of bars integrated in a single generally drum-like structure, mounting means for the sets of bars providing for rotation thereof generally about the circumference of the drum, the mounting means for the several sets providing for slightly eccentric movement of one set with respect to another and also for relative movement of the bars generally lengthwise or axially of the drum, a device for feeding a thread to be wound on the drum and moved therealong in a generally helical path by said eccentric and longitudinal movement of the bars, means for applying a treating agent to the thread on the drum, and means'associated with said feeding device for shifting the point at which the thread is delivered to the drum,

whereby to shift the point of thread contact on the bars during operation.

9. Apparatus of the character described including a rotating cage or drum adapted to receive and advance a plurality of turns of thread, and a mechanism for feeding the thread to the drum including a guide device shiftable generally lengthwise of the drum, and means for shifting said guide device in synchronism with the rotation of the drum.

10. In apparatus of the character described, a spinning device, a rotatably mounted drum or cage adapted to receive the spun thread, means incorporated in the drum structure for advancing the thread in a generally helical path for purposes of treatment, and means for delivering the thread from the spinning device to said drum including a drawing wheel mounted for rotation with said drum.

11. In apparatus of the character described, a spinning device, a rotatably mounted drum or cage adapted to receive the spun thread, means incorporated in the drum structure for advancing the thread in a generally helical path for purposes of treatment, and means for delivering the thread from the spinning device to said drum including a drawing wheel mounted in association with the drum mounting for rotation therewith.

12. In apparatus of the character described. a rotatably mounted drum structure having radially arranged apertures therein and being adapted to receive and advance a thread therealong in a generally helical path, means for supplyin a liquid treating agent to the thread as it is advanced on the drum, and a mechanism for drying the thread on the drum including means for supplying heated air to the interior of the drum to be discharged radially outwardly through said apertures and between the turns of the thread, the drum structure being of reduced diameter in the region of drying as compared to the region of liquid treatment.

. 13. In apparatus of the character described,

device and a pump therefor, a power or main drive shaft extended along said bank, and an individually disconnectible driving connection for each machine extended from said power shaft to the drum and to the spinning device with its pump.

14. In the art of manufacturing artificial silk thread in accordance with a process involving spinning of the thread and subsequent treatment with a liquid chemical treating agent, the method which includes spinning the thread, continuously advancing the spun thread through a generally helical path the axis of which is inclined with respect to the horizontal, and treating the thread during its movement in said path by applying a liquid chemical treating agentthereto, the said treatment being effected by splitting the total amount of liquid chemical treating agent into a plurality of parts and appLving such parts to the thread at points spaced from each other in the direction of inclination of path of movement.

15. In apparatus of the character described, a rotatable cage structure adapted to receive a thread at one end thereof and advance it in a gen,- erally helical path the axis of which extends at an angle to the horizontal with the receiving end inclined downwardly, means for supplying a liquid treating agent to the thread on said cage structure, said means. being adapted to split te supply into a plurality of parts and to make application thereof to the thread at points spaced from each other in the direction of inclination of helical path of movement.

18. In apparatus of the character described, a mechanism for laying up and advancing thread for treating purposes including a plurality of sets of bars integrated in a single generally drum-like structure, mounting means for the sets of bars providing for rotation thereof generally about the circumference of the drum, the mounting means for the several sets providing for radial in and out movement of one set with respect to another and also for relative movement of the bars generally lengthwise or axially of the drum, a device for feeding a thread to be wound on the drum and moved therealong in a generally helical path by said eccentric and longitudinal movement of the bars, and means for applying a treating agent to the thread on the drum at a point intermediate the ends thereof, the bars incorporated in the drum structure being angled inwardly toward each end thereof to provide reduced diameter of the drum at both ends as compared with an intermediate portion.-

1'7. In apparatus of the character described, a mechanism for laying up and advancing thread for treating purposes including a plurality of sets of bars integrated in a single generally drumlike structure, mounting means for the sets of bars providing for rotation thereof generally about the circumference of the drum, the mounting means for the several sets providing for radial in and out movement of one set with respect to another and also for relative movement of the end thereof to provide reduced diameter of the drum at both ends as compared with an intermediate portion.

18. In apparatus of the character described, a

mechanism for laying up and advancing thread for treating purposes including a plurality of sets of bars integrated in a single generally drum-like structure, mounting means for the sets of bars providing for rotation thereof generally about the circumference of the drum, the mounting means for the several sets providing for radial in and out movement of one set with respect to another and also for relative movement of the bars generally le wise or axially of the drum, a device for feeding a thread to be wound on the drum and moved therealong in a generally helical path by said eccentric and longitudinal movement of the bars, means for applying a liquid treating agent to the thread on the drum, and heater means associated with the drum beyond the means last mentioned with respect to the direction of travel of the thread, the said bars being angled inwardly in the region of the heater means to provide reduced drum diameter in this region.

19. Thread treating apparatus including a drum structure having spaced bearing devices and peripheral members extended lengthwise of the drum between the bearing devices and mounted thereon, the said members being extended generally axially of the drum beyond one of the bearing devices, and heater means associated with the drum and located interiorly ofthe extended portions of said members.

20. In apparatus for treating thread, a rotating cage or drum structure including peripheral members spaced from each other about the cage for feeding the thread in a generally helical path, and means for delivering heated air to the thread internally of the cage to dry the thread, whereby the air is caused to circulate from a point inside the cage outwardly through the spaces between said peripheralmembers.

21. The method of manufacturing artificial silk thread which includes spinning the thread, advancing the thread through an extended generally hellcal path the axis of which is inclined with respect to the horizontal, the direction of movement of the thread being from the lower end of the helix to the upper end thereof, supplying a liquid chemical treating agent to the thread to treat the same during its helical movement by splitting the supply into a plurality of parts and applying the said parts to the thread at points spaced from each other in the direction of inclination of the helix, and applying a washing medium to the thread during its helical movement at a point above the points of application of the treating agent.

22. Apparatus of the character described including rotative means adapted to support a thread and advance the same through a generally helix-like path, and means for applying a liquid chemical treating agent to the thread during its path of movement, and means for shifting the point of application of the treating liquid generally axially of the helix-like path.

23. Apparatus of the character described including rotative means adapted to support a thread and advance the same through .a generally helix-like path, the rotative means being inclined so as to incline the axis of said helix-like path, and means for apply a liquid chemical treating agent to the thread during its path of movement, and means for shifting the point of ed thread supporting andcontacting surface, and means for leading the thread to said structure with a traverse motion so that no surface of the structure remains always unexposed, and means for supplying a liquid treating agent to the thread on said structure.

WIILIAM H. FURNESS.

CERTlFICATE or connection.

him No. 1,933,795.

December ll. 1934.

WILLIAM H. FURNESS.

It in hereby certified that error appeara in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 3, line 21, claim 14, before the word "path" insert the words the helical; and that the said Lettera Patent should he read with thia correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office. I

Signed and sealed this 5th day of February, A. D. 1935.

(Seal) Leslie Frazer Acting Commissioner of Patents.

ed thread supporting andcontacting surface, and means for leading the thread to said structure with a traverse motion so that no surface of the structure remains always unexposed, and means for supplying a liquid treating agent to the thread on said structure.

WIILIAM H. FURNESS.

CERTlFICATE or connection.

him No. 1,933,795.

December ll. 1934.

WILLIAM H. FURNESS.

It in hereby certified that error appeara in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 3, line 21, claim 14, before the word "path" insert the words the helical; and that the said Lettera Patent should he read with thia correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office. I

Signed and sealed this 5th day of February, A. D. 1935.

(Seal) Leslie Frazer Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

